Expulsion fuse



w. D. KYLE EXPULS I ON FUSE June 9, 1931 Filed March 18, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l June 9,1931. w. D. KYLE 1,809,205

EXPULSION FUSE Filed March 18 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N I i Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM D. KYLE, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO LINE MATERIAL COMPANY, OF SOUTH MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE EXPULSION FUSE Application filed March 18, 1929.

My invention relates to expulsion fuses,

and it has for its object the provision of a new and improved arrangement of parts by which the conducting gases generated by the rupture of the fuse element are conducted away from the terminals of the apparatus and are prevented from entering the space between the line terminals where they would belikely to cause arcing. To this end, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide an improved arrangemeni'; in a combination fuse and switch box whereby one or more barrier plates are employed, either between the terminals in the box or between the terminals and the point where the gases escape when a fuse is ruptured, or at both of said locations, the parts being preferably so arranged that the barrier plates shall not in any way interfere with the removal of the fuse unit for efiecting the desired opening of the circuit.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved arrangement of means for holding the'fuse unit removably in operative position, the parts being arranged particularly with reference to the provision of cooperating means in the form of barrier plates or other parts for preventing access to the interior of the fuse box by the gases generated by the rupture of the fuse element. It is another object of my invention to provide an arrangement by reason of which the use of a fuse tube extending some little distance from the end of the box shall not interfere with the normal movement of the box cover by which the switch opening effect is attained.

It is another object of my invention to provide an improved construction of closure means by which the major portion of the fuse is closed off from the line terminals in the box while at the same time ample facilities are provided by such construction for the operation of removing the fragments of a ruptured fuse and applying a new fuse in operative position.

It is another object of my invention to improve devices of this type in sundry details hereinafter pointed out. The preferred means by which I have accomplished my sev- Serial No. 347,887.

eral objects are illustrated in the drawings and are hereinafter specifically described. That which I believe to be new and desire to cover by Letters Patent is set forth in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view through the preferred form of my improved fuse and switch box;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken at line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of the lower portion of the fuse unit as shown in Fig. 1 but with certain of the parts removed for placing a new fuse element in position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modified form of construction;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view of the lower end portion of the fuse unit as shown in Fig. 4 but with certain of the parts removed for placing a new fuse element in position therein; 1

Fig. 6 is a bottom faceview of the barrier plate removably mounted on the lower end portion of the fuse unit of Fig. 4, such plate being partially broken away; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the lower end portion of a structure of slightly modified form.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and provided on its rear face with a securing bolt 11 extending therefrom for mounting the box removably in position upon any suitable support. In the construction shown, the side face of the box at the left in Fig. 1 is left open so as to be closed by a removable cover plate 12 also preferably formed of insulating material, being provided on its front face with a handle 13 of any approved type.

In the construction shown, the cover plate 12 is provided with two barrier plates 14 and 15, such plates being preferably formed integrally with the cover 12. As is best shown in Fig. 2, the side walls of the box 10 are provided with oppositely disposed grooves into which the barrier plates 14 and 15 are movable as the cover plate is given a straight sliding movement toward the right in Fig. 1. As willbe readily understood, the barrier plate 14 serves to provide a compartment 16 in the upper end of the box separated from the remainder of the box, and the barrier plate serves to provide a second compartment 17 separated from the compartment 16 and from the small lower end portion of the box.

In each of the chambers 16 and '17, I provide a line terminal 18 secured in position in the box by means of a lug 19, as is clearly shown in Fig. 1. The side walls of the box 10 are provided with ports 20 opposite each of the line term-inals18 for the entrance of one or more line wires for connection with the term nal. 2 Y

Upon the inner face of the cover plate 12 above the barrier plate 14, I'have provided a fuse terminal 21 in the form of a block of metal cored out to receive the upper end of a fuse tube 22, the upper end of the terminal 21 being provided with a screw threaded cap 23,:by which a fuse .24 extending upwardly through the tube 22 and through an opening in the terminal '21 is electrically connected withlthe terminal 21.

Upon the inner face of the cover plate 12 between the barrier plates 14 and 15., I have provided a fuse terminal 25 in the form of a metal block also cored outto receive the fu e tube 22, such fuse tube having a close fit in an openin 26 throu h1the barrier plate 14a.

At its inner face, the fuse terminal 25 is provided with oppositely disposed lugs 27, as is best shown in Fig. 3, between which a set screw 28 is removably secured by means of screw threads, the setscrew 28 being adapted to bind the endof the fuse '24 firmly upon the terminal 25,.as is clearly shown in Fig. 1, such fuse member-24 having been turned sidewisethrough a notch 29, inthe end of the tube 22. It will be understood that by the construction described the fuse terminals 21 and 25 are ,electrically connected by the fuse 2a, the tube 22 of course being formed of rubber, fibre, or other non-conducting material.

As is best shown in Fig.3, the tube member 22in the construction illustrated" terminates withinv an opening 30 through the barrier plate 15, the arrangement being such that the end of the fuse'24 can readily be threaded through the notch 29 for connection with the terminall25; \Vhen the fuse has been turned upwardly along-the outer face of the tube 22 as shown-1n Fig. 1, an auxiliary fuse tube member 31 having a snug fit within the open-' ing'30 is detachably connected with the tube member :22 so as toforma continuation thereof, the tube member 31 being detachab-ly secured in position upon the tube '22 by means of screwth-reads in the construction illustrate'd.

' Switch meansof any approved type are moval of the fuse imitate a whole'for efi'ectemployed for connecting the upper line terminal 18 With. the fuse terminal 21 and for detachably connecting the lower line terminal 18 with the fusetermmal 25. r In the construction shown, each switch means comprises a pair of yokes 32 formed of spring metal se cured to the terminal 18 and opening toward the left in Fig. 1, being arranged to receive between their outer ends the corresponding fuse terminal 21' or 25 so asto provide effective electrical connections between the terminals 18 when the parts are in operative position. The arrangement is such that when the cover plate 12 is drawn toward the left in Fig. 1 the switches are opened for disconnecting the terminals 18. The bottom wall of the box 10 is notched at 33 for permitting the movement of the fuse tube 31 toward the left in Fig. 1. i

lVitli-the parts in the condition as shown in Fig. 1, when an overload occurs such as to cause a rupture of the fuse 2a, the gases generated by the rupture and t is more or less complete volatilization of the fuse 2% are prevented fromentering the compartment 16, the cap 23 being adapted efiectively to close the upper endof the tube By the force of the ex lesion of the fuse, the gases are conducted downwardly through the tube 22 and the continuation '31 and are dischargedhe lower end of the tube at a pcintoutsi lof the box 10. By my improved arrangement, comprising the barrier plate 1 1- acting in connection with the enclosing tube 22, any

conducting gases which m htpossibly be V IOl'IllGCl within the chamber 1'4 are prevented from obtaining access to the line. terminal 8 witlnai the compartment 16,,ann inthis way arcing between the terminals 18 is effectivelyprevented. By my arrangement by which the major portion of the fuse 24 is closed off from the portion of the box in which both terminals lS are mounted, the gases generated by the rupture of such major portion of the fuse are pr vented from access toeither of such terminals. By reason of the straight line movement oft-he cover plate 12 toward the left in Fig. 1 for removing the fuse from the box and opening the switches between'the line terminals 18, l am enabled to provide an auxiliary fuse tube 31 extend me some little distance beyond the end of the box 10, since the ext-ending end of the tube 31 in such construction does not iaveing a switch opening operation, as well as ample facilities for the application of a new fuse when required.

In the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the arrangement is the same as that above describedwith the exception of the construction at the lower end. In these figures, the parts are accordingly indicated by the same reference characters except so far as hereinafter set forth. In the construction here shown, a fuse tube 34 is employed in lieu of the tube 22, such tube 34 extending downwardly to a point adjacent to an opening 35 corresponding to the opening The lower end of the tube 34 is not notched and is not provided with screw threads. The fuse 24 is turned baclnvardly along the side of the tube 34 for connection in position by the screw 28. A barrier plate 36 is employed in lieu of the barrier plate 15, such plate 36 being removably secured upon the end of the tube 34 and the turned back fuse 24, the opening 37 through the plate 36 being such (see Fig. 6) as to have a snug fit about the tube and the fuse. The plate 36 is also adapted to have sliding engagement with the inner face of the cover plate 12, the lower end of the cover plate being notched at 38 for this purpose. When it is desired to insert a new fuse, the cover plate 12 and connected parts are moved toward the left in Fig. 4 out of operative position. The plate 36 is then slipped out of engagement with the tube 34 so as to leave the parts in the condition as shown in 4 Fig. 5 for permitting the insertion of a new fuse.

In the construction shown in Fig. 7, a second modification is illustrated. In this construction, the tubes 22 and 31 are left substantially as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but the bottom barrier plate is omitted entirely. In this construction, the auxiliary sleeve 31 extends some little distance beyond the end of the box 10 and this is relied upon for preventing the entrance of any material amount of conducting gas-es through the notch 33 in the bottom wall of the. box 10.

It will be understood that I am not necesrarily restricted to the use of my improved arrangement as a fuse box, since the fuse 24 could be removed and any other suitable form of conducting member could be substituted for electrically connecting the terminals located on the cover 12 for use of the device as a whole as merely a connecting device rather than as a combination connecting device and fuse. In such a case, the substituted conducting member could be made in flexible form so as to be detachably connected within the tube 22 between the terminals 21 and 25, or it could bev otherwise mounted might be desired. In case the use of the fuses should be discontinued and other connectors should be substituted, the part 14 might be changed in form as desired so as to continue as a guiding means for directing the switch parts into proper interengaging position but without necessarily acting as a barrier.

\Vhile I prefer to employ the form of construction substantially as shown in my drawings and as above described, it is to be understood that the claims are not to be limited thereto except so far as they are so limited by the prior art, it being understood that changes may well be made in the form of construction without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim 1. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, means including a barrier plate providing a substantially tight closure for said box, a second barrier plate extending across said box providing a compartment separated from the remainder of the box, line terminals in said box at opposite sides of said second barrier plate, a fuse electrically connecting said terminals, and means surrounding the major portion of the fuse within the box serving to prevent access to either of said terminals by the gases generated by the rupture of said major portion of the fuse.

2. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, a barrier plate providing a substantially tight closure for said box, a second barrier plate extending across said box providing a compartment separated from the remainder of the box, line terminals in said box at opposite sides of said second barrier plate, a fuse electrically connecting said terminals, and means surrounding the fuse serving to block off from said compartment the entire portion of the fuse therein and to block off from the space between said barrier plates the major portion of the remainder of the fuse and serving thereby to prevent access to either of said terminals by the gases generated by the volatilization of said major portion of the fuse. 3. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, a barrier plate providing a substantially tight closure for said box, a second barrier plate extending across said box providing a compartment separated from the remainder of the box, line terminals in said box at opposite sides of said second barrier plate, a fuse electrically connecting said terminals, and a fuse tube extending through both of said barrier plates into said compartment and having the portion in said compartment closed about the portion of the fuse therein and having at the opposite end portion an opening to the atmosphere outside of the box serving to prevent access to either of said terminals by the gases generated by the volatilization of the portion of the fuse in the tube.

4. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box,

a cover for sai'dbox, fuse terminals in spaced relation to each other on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically connectingsaid fuse terminals, switch means detachably'conmeeting the fuse terminals'with the line terminals respectively, and closure means comprising a barrier plate mounted onsaid cover and having a sliding fit in saidrbox serving necting the fuse terminals with, the line ter- V in the walls minalsrespectively, and closure means con prising two barrier plates mounted on said cover and having a sliding fit in said box serving when said switch means are moved into operative engagement to divide the box between said line terminals and to close off the major portion of the fuse from the portion of the box in which said line terminals are mounted.

r (3. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, a cover for said box, a barrier'plate carried by said cover and slidable in oppositely disposed grooves of said box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box, fuseterminals carried by said cover in spaced relation to each other, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachably connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and closure meansadapted in cooperation with said barrier plate to close off the major portion of said fuse from the terminals adjacent to said barrier plate.

7. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, a cover for said box, a barrier plate carried by said cover and slidable in oppositely disposed grooves in the walls of said box, line terminals in said box on opposite sides of said barrier plate, fuse terminals carried by said cover on opposite sioes of said barrier plate, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachably 7 connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and clo- I sure means adapted in cooperation with'said barrier plate to close off the fuse completely from one set of switch connected terminals,

and to close off completely one set of switch connected'ter-minals from the other set;

8. A device of the type described, comp ising in combination a fuse box, a cover for said box, a barrier platecarried by said cover and slidable in oppositely disposed grooves in the walls of said box, line terminals in said box on opposite sides of said barrier plate, fuse terminals carried by said cover on opposite sides of said barrier plate, a fuse electrically the lineterminals respectively,-.a second barrier plate carried by said cover and slidable.

in oppositely disposed grooves in the walls of said box near the end thereof beyond all of said terminals, and closure means adapted in cooperation with said barrier plates to close off the fuse completely from one set of switch connected terminals, to close off the major portion of the fuse from the other set of switch connected terminals, and to close off completely one of said sets of terminals from the other set.

9. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box, a cover for said box, fuse terminals in spaced relation to each other on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachably connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and a fuse tube carried by the cover and extending through a close fitting opening in the wall of the box to some little distancebeyond the wall, said tube surrounding the fuse throughout the major portion of its length and serving to conduct from the fuse box the gases generated by the volatiliZat-ion of said major portion of the fuse.

10. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box, a cover having a straight sliding movement into and out of operative closing position on said box, fuse terminals in spacedre'lation to each other on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachably connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and a fuse tube carried 'by'th'e cover and extending through a close fitting opening in the wall of the box to some little distance beyond the wall, said tube surround ing the fuse throughout the major portion of its length but with the fuse threaded through an opening in the side of the tube'whereby the tube serves to conduct from the fuse box the gases generated by the volatilization of said major portion of the fuse.

11. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box, a cover having a straight sliding movement into and outof operative closing positionon said box, fuse terminals in spaced relation to each other on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachably connectthe fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and a. two-part fuse tube carried by the cover and extending through a close fitting opening in the wall of the box to some o o O little distance beyond the wall, said tube surrounding the fuse throughout the major portion of its length but with the end portion of the fuse bent sidewise through a notch in one tube member and with the other tube member secured removably in position in substantial continuation of the notched tube member.

12. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box, a cover having a straight sliding movement into and out of operative closing position on said box, fuse terminals in spaced relation to each other on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachably connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and a two part fuse tube carried by the cover and extending through a close fitting opening in the wall of the box to some little distance beyond the wall, said tube surrounding the fuse throughout the major portion of its length but with the end portion of the fuse bent sidewise through a notch in the end of one tube member, and with the other tube member secured removably in position by means of screw threads on the notched tube member.

13. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, line term nals in spaced relation to each other in said box, a cover for said box, fuse terminals in spaced relation to each other on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachablv connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, a barrier plate fixedly mounted on said cover and having a sliding fit in said box, a. fuse tube member surrounding the fuse throughout the major portion of its length and ending at a point adjacent to an opening through said barrier plate whereby said fuse may readily be turned sidewise into a notch in the end of said tube, and an auxiliary tube member removably secured in po-- sition in substantial continuation of said first named tube member serving substantially to close said notch about the fuse extending sidewise through the notch and serving also substantially to fill the opening through said barrier plate, whereby the plate and the tube members serve when said switch means are moved into operative engagement to close off the major portion of the fuse from the portion of the box in which said line terminals are mounted.

14. A device of the type described, comprising in combination a fuse box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box, a cover for said box, fuse terminals in spaced relation to each other on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detachably connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, a barrier plate fixedly eel-3 mounted on said cover and having a sliding fit in said box, a fuse tube member surround ing the fuse throughout the major portion of its length and ending at a point adjacent to an opening through said barrier plate whereby said fuse may readily be turned sidewise into a notch in the end of said tube, and an auxiliary fuse tube member removably secured by means of screw threads on the end of said first named tube member serving substantially to close a notch in the end of said first named tube member about the fuse extending sidewise through the notch, and serving also substantially to fill the opening through said barrier plate, whereby the plate and the tubes serve when said switch means are moved into operative engagement to close off the major portion of the fuse from the portion of the box in which said line terminals are mounted.

15. In a connecting device, the combination of a box open at one side face, a cover for said box, a guide plate carried by said cover at right angles thereto adapted by engagement with guiding means on the box to direct the cover into closing position'by a movement in substantial parallelism with the box and adapted when the cover is in closed position to divide the box in 0 two separated compart ments, line terminals mounted in said box at opposite end portions thereof, other terminals mounted on said cover on opposite sides of said guide plate, means electrically connecting said second named terminals with each other, and slidably engaging switch means directed into smooth engagement by said guide plate and cooperating guiding means for connecting said first named terminals with said second named terminals respectively.

16. In a connecting device, the combination of a box open at one side face, a cover for said box, a guide plate carried by said cover at right angles thereto adapted by engagement with guiding means on the box to direct the cover into closing position by a movement in substantial parallelism with the box and adapted when the cover is in closed position to divide the box into two separated compartments, line terminals mounted in said box at opposite end portions thereof, other terminals mounted on said cover on opposite sides of said guide plate, a fuse electrically connecting said second named terminals with each other, slidably engaging switch means directed into smooth engagement by said guide I plate and cooperating guiding means for connecting said first named terminals with said second named terminals respectively, and means about the fuse and opening to the atmosphere outside of the box for carrying from the box the gases generated by the fusing of said fuse.

17 A device of the type described, com prising in combination a fuse box, a cover for ISO Santos, a barrier plate'removably carried by'said cover and slidable in oppositely disposed grooves in the walls of said bbx near oneend thereof, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in said box,fu-se terminals carried by said cover in spaced relation to each-other, a fuse electrically connecting the fuse terminals, switch means detachably connecting the f'use terminals with the line terminals respectively, and closure means adapted in cooperation with said barrier plate to close off-the major portion of said fuse from said'terminals.

18. A device of the type described, comprising in'combination a fuse'box, a cover for said'box, a barrier plate'carried by said cover and slidable in oppositely disposed grooves in the walls of said box, line terminals in spaced relation to each other in saidbox, fuse terminals carried by said cover in spaced relation to'each other, a fuse electrically connecting saidfuse terminals, switch means detachably connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and tube means surrounding said fuse adapted incooperation with said barrier plate to close on the major portion of the fuse-from said terminals, said barrier plate being mounted in position on said. cover by a releasable engagement with said tube and a. turned back portion or said fuse. a r l9. A device ofthe typedescribed, comprising in combination a fuse box, line terminals in spaced relation-to each other'i n-said box, a cover for said box, fuseterm-inals in spaced relation to eachother on the inner face of said cover, a fuse electrically corr- V necting saidffuse terminals, switch means de' tachably connecting the fuse terminals with the line terminals, respectively, and av fuse tube-earned by the cover and extending through aclosefitting' opening in the wall 7 oftheboxto some little distance beyond the wall, said tube surrounding the, fuse throughout the or portion of its length but with one end portion of the fuse extending laterah ly through an opening in the side wall ofthe' tube and doubled back along the sideof. the

tube for connection with one of: said fuse terminals, said tubeserving conduct from the fuse box the gases generated by thevolatilization ofsaid" major portion ofthe fuse.

20; A device of the type described, comprising in combinationa fuse box, a cover for said box, a barrier plate carried by said cover and slidable in oppositely disposed grooves in the walls-of said box, line'termi nalsin spaced relationto each otherin said box, fuse terminals carried by said cover in spaced relation to eaohother, a fuse electrically connecting said fuse terminals, switch means detacliably' connecting V the fuse terminals with the line terminals respectively, and

tube means surrounding said fuse adapted 1n cooperation withsaid barrierplate to close 

